Chapter 1005 - 1003 Mission To Capture
Only then did the meaning of her words slowly catch up with him, as though his mind had finally finished processing the information.
He instinctively started to glance back at her, but the presence of the massive bear-like creature and the giant scarlet bee in front of him made him stiffen again. His gaze snapped forward, vigilance still etched into every line of his posture.
Without lowering his guard, he spoke cautiously, his voice laced with disbelief.
"...What did you just say?"
Seeing his reaction, Kisha’s expression softened, and a quiet chuckle escaped her lips. She gently pushed Ethan aside before stepping forward and reaching out toward Bell.
The sight nearly made Ethan’s heart stop.
The massive scarlet bee was simply too intimidating up close. Its enormous body hovered in the air, its forelegs moving slowly, and the faint buzz of its wings made his skin crawl. He didn’t have any particular fear of insects, but something about its unnatural size and presence was deeply unsettling, like a creature straight out of a prehistoric age.
"Be careful —" Ethan began urgently.
But before he could even finish his warning, the giant scarlet bee slowly lowered its flight, hovering closer to the ground as if making it easier for Kisha to reach it. Its buzzing grew softer yet more insistent, almost affectionate in tone, as though it were trying to curry her favor.
Ethan blinked in stunned silence.
Though all he could hear was the loud, vibrating hum, the creature’s behavior looked unmistakably... coquettish. And judging from how it leaned toward Kisha with surprising gentleness, his impression was, in fact, completely accurate.
"Master, did you hear that? Which part of me looked threatening to him? Boohoo..." Bell buzzed indignantly, hovering closer to Kisha while acting unusually coquettish.
It was a rare sight. Bell usually carried itself with a lofty air, like a queen sitting upon her throne. While it had never been cold toward Kisha, it had certainly never behaved in such a cute and pitiful manner before. Yet now, as if deeply wronged, it kept up a soft, pleading buzz, clearly trying to win her sympathy.
"Alright, alright. Don’t pout," Kisha said with a helpless smile as she gently rubbed Bell’s head. "My second brother didn’t mean to judge you. He was only worried about my safety."
Her tone then turned slightly more serious as she added, "Now, go and scout the area for any mutated animals."
"Master! Me too! Me too!"
Seeing how affectionate Kisha was toward Bell, Zeus grew visibly jealous and didn’t even bother to hide it. The massive beast lowered its enormous head and nudged against her, practically demanding the same attention.
Kisha could only sigh helplessly before raising both hands, one to each of them, gently rubbing their heads to appease their obvious rivalry for her attention.
After a brief moment of indulgence, Bell let out a series of soft buzzing calls. Soon, several drones flew out from its hive that came out of the portal that Bell opened from Kisha’s territory since Bell now has access to it too, scattering in different directions as they began to scout the entire forest, faithfully carrying out Kisha’s command.
Standing at the back, Ethan barely registered what was happening in front of him. His thoughts seemed to freeze at the exact moment Kisha had called him "second brother."
To him, that single form of address felt like an acknowledgment, an acceptance of their familial bond. The realization made something in his chest bloom with quiet, unexpected happiness, and he found himself unconsciously savoring the moment.
So absorbed was he in that thought that he failed to notice the sudden swarm of massive drone bees emerging from seemingly nowhere. Hundreds of them flew out in orderly formations, dispersing in all directions as they began scouting the forest under Bell’s command.
When Kisha turned around and saw him standing there in a daze, she couldn’t help but pause. His absent-minded expression was so unlike his usual composed and soldier-like demeanor that it felt almost out of character.
With a faint sigh, she snapped her fingers in front of him to pull him back to reality, clearly puzzled as to why he was suddenly acting so foolishly.
When Kisha snapped her fingers in front of him, Ethan blinked and shook his head slightly, forcing his wandering thoughts aside as he refocused on her. His sharp gaze softened, the usual tension in his eyes easing as he looked at her.
"...Can you call me ’second brother’ again?" he asked quietly, a faint trace of emotion hidden in his voice.
Only then did Kisha realize that, in the midst of explaining things to Bell, she had unconsciously addressed him that way. A hint of awkwardness crossed her face, and she rubbed the tip of her nose, clearly not used to such familiarity.
Seeing her reaction, Ethan immediately understood.
He suppressed the eagerness rising in his chest, afraid that if he pushed too much, she might grow uncomfortable and distance herself from him again.
"You don’t have to force yourself if it feels awkward," he added with a small, gentle chuckle.
For him, that single, unintentional "second brother" was already more than enough, for now. As long as he was still by her side, he was willing to take things slowly. Sixteen years was a long gap to make up for, and he was determined to bridge that distance little by little, until she could one day feel completely at ease around him and naturally accept him as family.
"Um..."
Kisha gave a small nod before walking ahead. At the same time, Bell’s drones began relaying their findings, projecting the images directly into Bell’s mind, which were then seamlessly transmitted to Kisha. Almost instantly, her attention shifted, her focus returning to the very purpose of her visit to the forest.
"Little sister, I heard you mention that you’re looking for mutated animals," Ethan spoke up, quickly seizing the opportunity. "May I ask why? Are you planning to capture them? If so, I can help."
There was a clear eagerness in his tone, as if he was deliberately trying to prove his usefulness in front of her, hoping she would rely on him more often.
Kisha did not bother hiding the truth. After all, it wasn’t as though he could interfere with her plans even if he knew.
"Yes," she replied calmly. "I need to capture a few mutated animals alive for some experiments."
However, Ethan completely misunderstood what Kisha meant by "experiments."
Knowing that she studied medicine, he immediately assumed she intended to capture the mutated animals to research the origin of the virus that had begun to plague the world, and perhaps even develop a cure herself to put an end to the disaster.
In that instant, without Kisha realizing it, her image in Ethan’s mind rose to that of a quiet hero, someone shouldering a heavy burden for the sake of others.
Of course, if Kisha had known what he was thinking, she would not have been particularly surprised. She had long grown accustomed to people viewing her in such a light. Many had already placed their hopes and admiration on her, and she had even gained devotion points from them because of it. To her, it was nothing new.
...
Ding!
[New Mission Unlocked!]
[Hidden Mission – Class A: "Hunt Mutated Animals"]
[Description: After the apocalypse, triggered by an ancient virus released from the melting ice in the northern regions, all living beings began to undergo mutation. Some perished, unable to adapt, while others successfully evolved. Those who survived their mutation now stand at the forefront of a new era, gradually reshaping the balance of life on Earth.
A new cycle of survival of the fittest has begun, one that will ultimately redefine the food chain. No one can say for certain which species will rise to the top, whether humanity will retain its dominance or whether the mutated beasts will claim that position.
To determine this, systematic experimentation is required. Capturing live mutated animals will allow for the observation of their limits, genetic mutations, and evolutionary pathways. Direct combat and firsthand assessment will provide the most accurate data regarding their strength and adaptability.
Mission Objective:
Capture ten different types of mutated animals alive.
Mission Rewards:
Strength Pill ×10
Agility Pill ×10
Defense Pill ×10
Mental Capacity Pill ×10
Mission Failure Penalty: Awakened Ability will be sealed for three days.]
...
"Ugh!" Kisha groaned inwardly the moment she saw the mission failure penalty again.
She still vividly remembered how it felt when her awakened ability had been sealed before. At first, she had thought it wouldn’t be a big deal; after all, it was only three days, and it was far less severe than the penalties that could outright threaten her life. But reality had proven otherwise.
Being unable to use her awakened ability was not just inconvenient; it was suffocating. Her limbs had felt as heavy as lead, her reactions sluggish, and even her mind strangely dull and foggy. It was as if a vital part of herself had been forcefully suppressed.